Schabobele

Shabob is a circus. You never know what clowns or animals will show up. It's ridiculously hard and it's mid february. Don't take it seriously and you won't be disappointed.

We didn't have any horsepower to speak of in the 3/4 race and the SHC arch-nemesis Airborne team wasn't there at all. So this was a very different race from last year. Still harder than hell, but different. Whereas last year the pack was shattered on the first climb, this year things stayed mostly together through about half the race. Everyone pushed the climbs but the leaders were content to sit in afterwards and let things come back together. There was almost no teamwork by anyone. In the end it was simple attrition that brought the field down first to about half from 60+ starters to about a quarter by the end of the race. Six sets of climbs.

Halfway through the race I was fatigued and the pace was pushed a bit harder on the climbs. It was enough to pop a bunch of us off the back. I ended up in no mans land for a mile or so with the lead pack inching way. A caught on to a trio chase group and I cajoled them to chase because I could see the lead pack bunching up. Some killer pulls by an IU guy (I want his name) and a little help from me got us back on, but I think the IU guy dropped shortly thereafter.

After catching and resting a bit I kind of got upset that the leaders would let us catch on so easily. I wasn't going to be a threat on the climbs, I had no one to work for and I really couldn't think of anything I could do to make the race interesting that wouldn't be suicidal. I wasn't about to go suicidal when there was no one to do it for.

Long story short final climb was brutal and I finished maybe midpack. One guy soloed off before the climb and won without any help from anyone. Nice move. It was the first race of the season. Maybe next week we can have a decent turnout.

Schabobele=pain

It was a great race but my shoulder couldn't handle the hills and the cold to well.

Going into today's race I felt like this would be one of the hardest races of the year. Man was it ever! The 1st time up the hills hurt bad. The 2nd time it seemed easy, so I jumped on a chase attempt. I must not have been thinking.

Third time the hills were easy, so I jumped on a chase group this time it was working. All of a sudden my legs said stop! I kept pushing the pedals. Just when I could start to see again, ten riders were ahead. I'm stuck in no man's land. The pack was getting closer. I waved a truck to go around and as the truck passed me something told me not to give up. I believe it was the 25 mph head wind that was now 2! Needless to say I made the chase group before the field did.

The 4th time up the hills I couldn't hang on. Twenty riders were left in the race. I worked hard for another lap and went up the hills again. This time think I saw a snail pass me! My legs received a great deal of pain today.

I would like to thank Jesus for my health, safety, family, friends and job. What a great team Savage Hill has been to me. Thanks to all the hard work put into this team, Thank You.

I punctured on the back side of the second lap, just before the mailbox section where the three legged dog lie in waiting. So, like an orphaned wilderbeast on the Serengeti, I was left to fend for myself. They always go after the weak, sick and orphaned.

Mitch and I debated bagging the race and staying in the bar and getting drunk. In retrospect, that would have been the best course of action.

After the race, I promptly dug a hole in the mud, hid Larry's keys in it, and went home.